About this project

$78,118

pledged of $3,000 goal

1,405

backers

Hello! welcome to my kickstarter project, precision twirling tops! This project is my third and I am very excited to bring you this simple, elegant luxury item to be used as tools for collecting thoughts and awakening the youthful spirit within ☺
I am completely humbled by all the past support I have received on my previous two dice projects (here and here), I have learned a great deal with my experience in both projects and I hope to implement all I have learned again through this project! Thank you all SO much!

The idea for a good top came around after I found myself sitting deep in thought (…okay, procrastinating on a difficult homework problem…same thing.) and caught myself subconsciously twirling one of my precision die on its corner. After the first time, I caught myself doing it frequently whenever online, at my desk especially. My hands wanted to play with something while I thought.

I first thought of tops so I could spin something without putting little holes in my desk and my finger. Then I realized the many uses the top had: take a quick break when stressed, twirl the top. Thinking about something in your head you just cant put down yet? twirl the top. Stuck on a problem? procrastinating on something? or thinking about something and you hands need to be doing something at the same time? Twirl a top.

Then I had to make them better than any other top. I precision machined them so every top spins great every time. And I believe I can finally offer you this.

SO I decided to try for a world record, the most unassisted (fingers only, no string) twirling tops spinning at one time. To do this I need a top that spins for a long time 4-6 minutes minimum, and they needed to be consistent, so that's what I did. I made my first 6 minute top just a week or so ago, and they are only improving.

This record has not been set yet, I plan to do it while this campaign is in progress. If the record is set all the tops used to set it will become available as a separate reward tier, they will come numbered and with a signed certificate of authenticity, a custom made storage box, and a Guinness Word Record official participation certificate. Yes, you too can have credit for the world record :) Because technically it wouldn't happen without you.

Prototypes

Funding for this project will help pay for the raw materials
of various types, and the precision machining necessary, as well as packaging
materials for shipping. Also, Also, In addition to the high quality material I
am investing a six step quality control program that each and every top will go
through to ensure you are receiving the best possible. These steps were the
same taken to deliver both my Precision Dice projects. (White gloves and
everything ;) )

I have several awesome rewards you can get by backing this project!

Current colors for Aluminum spindles and rings are: Black, Blue, Red, Green, and Clear. Other colors will become available as stretch goals.

Spin Plate, available in all anodized color options! View update #2 for details!

Stainless steel totem top

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The thoughts behind my top. I had help this time around from my sister (optical engineering major) A whole lot of time and effort went into the math and physics to make this top spin at its best, this is what we calculated:

The second a top hits the table,
it is being acted upon. It will hit at t=t₀, instantaneously it will fall under
gravity’s curse.

If the shaft is vertical and the angle dΘ through which it
procesessis;

This shows that the precession rate is proportional to the τ,
torque

Therefore increased weight will make the top precess faster,
BUT increased mass and/or spin would increase L; making it precess slower.

The perfect top would maximize the precession, and inertia
values and minimize the kinetic energy change between the two planes.Leaving the only things to bring it down
being gravity and friction. So that’s what I did.

Thank you everyone so much for your support! Special
thanks to supports who have been with me since my first project, your continued
support means so much to me!

-amber :)

Risks and challenges

Challenges I may face during this production are material delays for the rare metals and shipping challenges. Everything else I am confident I can work out smoothly. I am working with the same manufacturer as I did with my other two dice projects and so the hardest part of finding a creditable manufacturer is already over.

I know where the raw materials are being sourced form and again thanks to my previous projects I know the estimated time scales for how long it takes each raw product to arrive. So hopefully this time I can avoid long delays.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $125 or more
About $125

TUNGSTEN CARBIDE SPINNING TOP - One (1) limited edition spinning top with TITANIUM spindle and TUNGSTEN outer ring. Only available through Kickstarter, will not be made again after the first and final production run. This reward can NOT be added on to any other reward tier. Please read update #5 for mare details.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $199 or more
About $199

WORLD RECORD SPINNING TOP: LIMITED EDITION 24! Used to break the world record for most spinning tops spinning at one time (see update #8 for details!) One (1) gold anodized aluminum top with stainless steel outer ring. Tops will each be laser engraved with a serial number, come in a specially engraved box (i'm looking into laminating these) also with serial number, and a certificate of authenticity with serial number, description of event, description of top, and mine (Amber, designer) and Ashley's (record breaker) signature on the certificate. OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY!